| "The Zombie" | |
|---|---|
| |
| Air date | September 20th, 1974 |
| Writers | Zekial Marko; David Chase |
| Director | Alex Grasshoff |
| Producers | Paul Playdon |
| Starring | Darren McGavin Simon Oakland |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous "The Ripper" |
Next "They Have Been..." |
"The Zombie" is the second episode of the supernatural mystery series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. It was directed by Alex Grasshoff with a teleplay written by Zekial Marko and David Chase based on a story concept developed by Zekial Marko. It first aired on ABC on Friday, September 20th, 1974 at 8:00 pm.
Story[]
A mob accountant is totaling up receipts when a unknown personage breaks down the door and kills a mob henchman. When other mob figures turn up dead, Kolchak realizes the killer is a reanimated Haitian who has been brought back to life in order to kill those who killed him! At the last second Kolchak just manages to stop the Zombie.
As a comic relief:
- Kolchak saves his himself from a beating and his life as well, when he persuades the Sposto gang boss that the Zombie grave is empty...literally betting his life that its already empty! {It is and Kolchak lives although mob hitman Friese is killed by the zombie
- Kolchak has to bring along a young girl as a would be news reporter [He manages to send her to safety on a bus] after Mob boss Sposto is killed by the zombie.
- It is hinted that Captain Winwood is in the mob's pocket; at the end he is forced to retire for unstated reasons!
- Gordy the Ghoul runs a lottery on the deceased birthdates!
Cast[]
Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Darren McGavin | Carl Kolchak |
| Simon Oakland | Tony Vincenzo |
Guest Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Charles Aidman | Captain Leo Winwood |
| Joseph Sirola | Benjamin Sposato |
| Val Bisoglio | Victor Friese |
Co-Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| J. Pat O'Malley | Caretaker |
| John Fiedler | Gordon "The Ghoul"Spangler |
| Antonio Fargas | Sweetstick Weldon |
| Scat Man Crothers | Uncle Filemon |
With[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paulene Myers | Mamalois Edmonds |
| Earl Faison | The Zombie |
| Carol Ann Susi | Monique Marmelstein |
| Ben Frommer | The monk |
| Roland Bob Harris | Poppy |
Notes & Trivia[]
- Kolchak: The Night Stalker was created by Jeff Rice.
- This episode is included on disc one of the Classic Television: Kolchak: The Night Stalker DVD collection.
- Series creator Jeffrey Grant Rice is credited as Jeff Rice in this episode.
- Director Alexander Grasshoff is credited as Alex Grasshoff in this episode.
- Actor Scatman Crothers is credited as Scat Man Crothers in this episode.
- This is the second and final episode of the series with Paul Playdon as producer. Beginning next episode, the series is produced by Cy Chermak.
- This is the first appearance of Monique Marmelstein. She appears next in "They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be...".
Quotes[]
- Carl Kolchak: Popular folklore would have us believe that there exist in the underworld ruthless men who fear nothing. This story should debunk that myth.
....
- Carl Kolchak: Captain Leo Winwood and I had a relationship that was long and bloody, like the Crusades, only without the chivalry.
....
- Carl Kolchak: Nine a.m., August 16, the official police briefing. As foolish a game as any Gordy the Ghoul could make up.
....
- Tony Vincenzo: Good morning, Carl. Did you get those extra pencils you wanted?
- Carl Kolchak: Oh, yeah.
- Tony Vincenzo: Listen, I read your Willie Pike story.
- Carl Kolchak: Oh, well, you must have taken up speed-reading. I just typed it.
- Tony Vincenzo: Oh, it's very good. Really, Carl.
- Carl Kolchak: You've got it upside down.
- Tony Vincenzo: Oh.
- Carl Kolchakk: What do you want of me?
- Tony Vincenzo: I'm starving. Let's get down to Manny's and grab a cup of coffee and a piece of Danish.
- Carl Kolchak: The last time that you invited me out for coffee and Danish, I ended up in Sioux Falls, Iowa, covering a hardware convention. And the time before that-
- Tony Vincenzo: Well, listen. Can't a man take a co-worker to coffee without being suspect?
- Carl Kolchak: Co-worker? The last time you called me a co-worker, I spent three days rewriting the obituaries because Charlie Creach was out on one of his benders! Co-worker? I had no co-worker! I was the co-worker!